An endorsement from the Writer’s Digest editorial team–10 copies of their book for submission to major publishing review houses.

A one-year membership to Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), the largest not-for-profit trade association representing nearly 3,000 independent book publishers, courtesy of IBPA.

Guaranteed acceptance in a special sales catalog, providing the Grand Prize Winner with national representation through 60,000 salespeople selling to non-bookstore markets, courtesy of Brian Jud & Book Marketing Works, LLC.

1. The competition is open to all English-language self-published books for which the authors have paid the full cost of publication, or the cost of printing has been paid for by a grant or as part of a prize.

3. Entrants must send a printed and bound book. Entries will be evaluated on content, writing quality and overall quality of production and appearance. No handwritten books are accepted.

4. All books published or revised and reprinted between 2010 and 2015 are eligible. (Writer’s Digest may demand proof of eligibility of semifinalists.)

5. All books not registered online must be accompanied by an Official Entry Form. Photocopies of the Official Entry Form are acceptable. You may enter more than one book and/or more than one category; however, you must include a separate book, entry form and the additional fee for each entry.

6. We accept check, money order or credit card payment for the required judging fee. The early-bird entry fees are $99 for the first entry, $75 for each additional entry must accompany submissions. Entries submitted after the April 1 early-bird deadline require the regular judging fee of $110 for the first entry and $85 for each additional entry. For entries submitted online, the multiple entry discount applies to entries submitted during the same checkout. Payment must accompany submissions.All checks will be cashed within 30 days of the competition final deadline. Entry fees are non-refundable.

7. Early-bird entries must be submitted or postmarked by April 1, 2015. All regular entries must be postmarked no later than May 1, 2015. All winners will be notified by October 12, 2015. Commentaries will be sent to entrants by December 1, 2015. If you wish to receive confirmation that your entry was received before the deadline, we recommend using certified mail or some other tracking method to send your entry.

8. Judges reserve the right to withhold prizes in any category. Judges reserve the right to re-categorize entries.

9. Books which have previously won awards from Writers Digest are not eligible.

10. Employees of F+W Media, Inc. and Book Marketing Works, LLC and their immediate families are not eligible. Books published by Abbott Press are not eligible to participate. Due to SEC restrictions we are unable to accept entries from Syria, Iran, or North Korea.

11. Writer’s Digest is not responsible for the loss, damage or return of any books submitted to the competition.